TRADITIONAL+DANCES

=      Traditional Dances of El Salvador = = Popular dances:   = = The Dance of the Chapetones  = This dance is executed in the town of Panchimalco. Twelve gentlemen dressed in tuxedos and in shoes appear. A lady dressed in white that represents the Queen and is wearing a headband on her head accompanies them. The dance imitates Spaniard manners and ridicules them with ceremonious and languid movements to the music of a delicate waltz. This dance is from "Lenca" origin and is executed by Indian towns in the eastern region of El Salvador. The center dancer imitates a mare, dancing barefoot or with sandals wearing a very well imitated horse head, a pack tied to his waist and a hind tail. Four Indians dance around the mare with wide sticks in their hands. This dance ends simulating a fight. The mare intervenes during the fight, separates them ending the fight by kicking and thumping all around, which is her principal role in the dance. Is one of the most ancient dances of the town of Izalco. It represents a mimic of a tiger hunt. A group of eight to ten Indians disguised as hunters, are able to hunt down a tiger after many twists, jumps and dances. They are dressed with a rough-cotton pant folded up to the knee; bear torso and face covered with wooden masks that represent ancient gods. The one that represents the tiger is covered with tiger skins and wears a mask tiger on the head. This is a battle dance of "Lenca" origin. It is also danced in the Indian towns of the East of the country. The number of Indians that participate vary between four to twelve. They carry somewhat long lances with a metal point and decorated with metal curls. This lance is called "Partesana". Another group of Indians of equal number accompany them carrying banners, batons decorated with ribbons, bows decorated with relics and woolen balls. The dancers thrown their lances to the sky and capture them on their way down after having made many turns in the air. There is a time when all the lances are in movement creating a battle effect. It is a very ancient dance of Indian origin. It is executed in almost all Indian towns in the country. The main dancer is disguised with wild pig skins and in the dance imitating the animal running. Also, there appears a man on the scene elegantly dressed and an old lady with a traditional outfit of the region and a big hat decorated with paper flowers. Another man disguised as a dog conducts de chorus. The members of the chorus are dressed with small shorts and small "pacaya" leaves skirts with colorful feathers on the head armed with bows and arrows or with wooden lances or long twigs from the "huizcoyol" tree. This dance is executed in almost every Indian town. The dancers simulate a battle that occurred centuries ago in Spain between Moors and Christians. They dress up with clothing of the time of the Spanish conquest. They carry swords, black boots and big masks decorated with antique coins that are placed around the head. This dance is executed at the principal feasts of the towns called "Nonualcos", especially in San Pedro. A man disguised as a "little bull", with horns on his head and a long hind tail comes out. There also appear bullfighters disguised and masked dancing to the tone of drums and whistles attacking the little bull. After a while there is silence and rhymed verses are improvised, as follows: "Este torito lo traigo a comer zacate del balde sólo por venir a bailar delante del señor Alcalde".
 * The Dance of the little Mare **
 * The Dance of the Tiger **
 * The Dance of the Lance (Partesana) **
 * The Dance of the Wild Pig **
 * The Dance of Moors and Christians **
 * The Dance of the little Bull **

"Este torito lo traigo desde Santa Cruz Michapa y hoy yo no me voy de aquí sin llevarme aquella chata". ** THERE ARE TRADITIONAL DANCES IN EACH REGION OF EL SALVADOR **